Federal Register / Vol. 73, No.

38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices 10327

Respondent Total annual Average time per Total annual Total annual
CFR section universe responses response burden hours burden cost

—Responses to FRA Request for 85 Railroads ........... 5 consultations ......... 120 hours ............... 600 75,000
Further Info. After Agency Receipt
of Notice of Product Develop-
ment—Technical Consultations.
—Petitions for Final Approval .......... 85 Railroads ........... 20 petitions ............... 40 hours ................. 800 30,400
—FRA Receipt of Petition & Re- 85 Railroads ........... 10 documents .......... 80 hours ................. 800 30,400
quest For Info.
—Agency Consultations To Decide 85 Railroads ........... 10 consultations ....... 40 hours ................. 400 15,200
on Petition.
—Other Petitions for Approval ......... 85 Railroads ........... 5 petitions ................. 60 hours ................. 300 11,400
—FRA acknowledges receipt of peti- 85 Railroads ........... 10 documents .......... 40 hours ................. 400 15,200
tions.
236.913 Petitions for Approval/Informa- Public/RR Commu- 10 comments ........... 8 hours ................... 80 2,960
tional Filings—Comments. nity.
Product Safety Plan (PSP)—3rd Party 85 Railroads ........... 3 assessments ......... 4,000 hours ............ 12,000 1,500,000
Assessment.
Product Safety Plan—Amendments ........ 85 Railroads ........... 15 amendments ....... 40 hours ................. 600 22,200
236.917—Retention of Records .............. 85 Railroads ........... 22 documents .......... 40 hours ................. 880 33,440
Report of Inconsistencies with PSP to 85 Railroads ........... 40 reports ................. 20 hours ................. 800 30,400
FRA.
236.919—Operations & Maintenance 85 Railroads ........... 30 manuals .............. 120 hours ............... 3,600 136,800
Manual.
—Plans For Proper Maintenance, 85 Railroads ........... 30 plans ................... 200 hours ............... 6,000 228,000
Repair, Inspection of Safety-Crit-
ical Products.
—Hardware/Software/Firmware Re- 85 Railroads ........... 5 revisions ................ 40 hours ................. 200 7,600
visions.
—Identification of Safety-Critical 85 Railroads ........... 10,000 markings ...... 10 minutes .............. 1,667 51,667
Components.
236.921—Training ................................... 85 Railroads ........... 30 Training Prog ...... 400 hours ............... 12,000 456,000
—Training of Signalmen & Dis- 85 Railroads ........... 220 sessions ............ 40 hours/20 hrs ...... 8,400 1,050,000
patchers.
236.923—Task Analysis/Basic 85 Railroads ........... 4,400 records ........... 10 minutes .............. 733 27,854
Reqmnts—Recds.

Total Responses: 15,145.
Estimated Total Annual Burden:
117,342 hours.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Post-Traumatic Stress in Train
Crew Members After a Critical Incident.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0567.
Abstract: Nearly 1,000 fatalities occur
every year in this country from trains
striking motor vehicles at grade
crossings and individual trespassers
along the track. These events can be
very traumatic to train crew members,
who invariably are powerless to prevent
such collisions. Exposure of train crews
to such work-related traumas can cause
extreme stress and result in safety-
impairing behaviors, such as are seen in
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Acute
Stress Disorder. Most railroads have
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
(CISD) intervention programs designed
to mitigate problems caused by
exposure to these traumas. However,
they are quite varied in their approach,
and it is not certain which components
of these programs are most effective.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
approximately 45 minutes, the approved Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
study aims to accomplish the following: Issued in Washington, DC on February 20,
(1) Benchmark rail industry best 2008.
practices of CISD programs; (2) Establish D.J. Stadtler,
the extent of traumatic stress disorders Director, Office of Financial Management,
due to grade crossing and trespasser Federal Railroad Administration.
incidents in the rail industry (not by
[FR Doc. E8–3606 Filed 2–25–08; 8:45 am]
region or railroad) and identify at-risk
populations; and (3) Evaluate the
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
effectiveness of individual components
of CISD programs. It should be noted
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
that only the components of CISD
programs will be evaluated, not an Federal Transit Administration
individual railroad’s overall
National Rural Transportation
intervention program.
Affected Public: Train Crew Members. Assistance Program Request for
Respondent Universe: 2,000 Train Proposals (RFP)
Crew Members.
Frequency of Submission: On AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration,
Occasion. DOT.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.120; FRA F ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
6180.121; FRA F 6180.122.
Estimated Annual Burden: 3,000 SUMMARY: This solicitation is for
hours. proposals from not-for-profit entities
Status: Regular Review. with rural transit and technical
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5 assistance expertise for a cooperative
CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA agreement to develop and implement a

The purpose of this collection of
information is to identify ‘‘best
practices’’ for CISD programs in the
railroad industry. By means of written
and subsequent oral interviews with
train crew members that will each take
informs all interested parties that it may
not conduct or sponsor, and a
respondent is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
National Rural Transportation
Assistance Program (RTAP). The entity
or entities selected will manage a
National technical assistance program
that improves and enhances the
coordination of Federal resources for

VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:29 Feb 25, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1
 10328 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
rural transportation. The major goal of
the National RTAP is to assist States and
local communities in the expansion and
provision of rural public transportation.
The Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) will award one or more five-year
agreement(s), funded annually. Year one
of the cooperative agreement(s) is for
$1.212 million dollars as authorized in
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act—A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) and
appropriated in FY2007. Funding for
subsequent years will be based on
annual appropriations, as well as annual
performance reviews. However, years
2010 and 2011 are subject to the next
reauthorization.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted
electronically by April 11, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be
submitted electronically to http://
www.grants.gov. Grants.Gov allows
organizations to find and apply for
funding opportunities electronically
from all Federal grant-making agencies.
Grants.Gov is the single access point for
over 1,000 cooperative agreement
programs offered by the 26 Federal
grant-making agencies.
Proposals can also be submitted in
hard copy accompanied by an electronic
version to Pamela Brown, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, E43–465, Washington,
DC 20590, or by electronic mail to
Pamela.brown@dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION
CONTACT: Pamela Brown at 202–493–
2503; FAX: 202–366–7951; or via e-
mail: pamela.brown@dot.gov.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
FTA is soliciting proposals for a
cooperative agreement (or agreements)
to implement the National RTAP. FTA
will award one or more five-year
cooperative agreements, which will be
funded annually at $1.2 to $1.5 million
(subject to the availability of
appropriations). The purpose of this
cooperative agreement is to develop and
implement an RTAP. The major goal of
the National RTAP is to assist States in
the service provision of rural public
transportation at both the State and
local levels. RTAP funds may be used
for training, technical assistance,
research, and related support services.
The National RTAP includes the
following tasks: (1) To promote the
delivery of safe and effective public
transportation in non-urbanized areas;
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
(2) To make more effective use of public
and private resources in the provision of
rural public transportation; (3) To
support the coordination of public and
human service transportation; (4) To
foster the development of State and
VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:29 Feb 25, 2008 Jkt 214001
local capacity for addressing the
training and technical assistance needs
of the rural transportation community;
(5) To facilitate peer-to-peer self-help
through networks of transit
professionals; (6) To improve the quality
of information and technical assistance
available through the development of
training and technical assistance
resource materials; (7) To disseminate
information and resources efficiently to
those who need them; (8) To conduct
research and analysis about rural transit;
(9) Maintain Mechanism for User Input
and Feedback; and (10) Project
Management and Administration.
The National RTAP will pursue the
following strategies in its development
and delivery of technical assistance
services targeted to enhance rural public
transportation: building partnerships,
leadership development, knowledge
management and customer-focused
service in order to facilitate capacity
building at the State and local levels,
and the provision of technical expertise
for research and analysis, either through
staff resources or contracts. RTAP
personnel will engage early and often
with Technical Assistance (TA)
recipients to ensure knowledge is
transferred and relationships are
developed. The RTAP will develop an
information and referral system as a key
focal point to disseminate models, and
identify useful practices for innovations
in rural public transportation and
systems. The RTAP also will build
coordination with and referrals to other
TA centers focused in targeted areas
related to rural public transportation to
build capacity (for example, the
National Resource Center for
Coordination, the National Senior
Transportation Center, JOBLINKS, and
Project ACTION).
The National RTAP program will
create and maintain collaborative public
and private partnerships at all levels—
local, tribal, State and Federal,
including a broad range of stakeholders
interested in facilitating rural public
transportation access to employment,
health, education, recreation and other
community services for elderly
individuals, individuals with
disabilities, low income individuals and
the general public in rural and small
urban areas.
II. Background
From Fiscal Years (FY) 1988–2005,
the RTAP was funded at approximately
$5 million each FY, with approximately
$500–750,000 each year devoted to a
National project. RTAP consists of two
components, the State program and the
national program. The RTAP program is
currently funded as a two percent
PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
takedown from the Section 5311
program. 85 percent of the takedown is
used to fund the State RTAP program
and the remaining 15 percent is for the
National RTAP program.
FTA implements the national program
through a cooperative agreement with a
private nonprofit organization
demonstrating a commitment to serving
rural, small urban, and specialized
transit providers. The nonprofit
organization which FTA selects through
a competitive process may receive
assistance under cooperative agreements
for up to five consecutive years before
FTA conducts a new competitive
selection.
RTAP is FTA’s major funding
mechanism for rural training, technical
assistance and research initiatives. The
objectives of the National RTAP are:
1. To promote the delivery of safe and
effective public transportation in
nonurbanized areas;
2. To make more effective use of
public and private resources in the
provision of rural transportation;
3. To support the coordination of
public and human service
transportation;
4. To foster the development of state
and local capacity for addressing the
training and technical assistance needs
of the rural transportation community;
5. To facilitate peer-to-peer self help
through networks of transit
professionals;
6. To improve the quality of
information and technical assistance
available through the development of
training and technical assistance
resource materials;
7. To disseminate information and
resources efficiently to those who need
them; and
8. To conduct research, including
analysis of data reported to FTA’s
National Transit Database (NTD), and to
maintain current profiles of the
characteristics of rural transit and the
inventory of providers of rural and
specialized transportation providers.
III. Objective
The objective of this project is to
provide technical support through a
cooperative agreement with a nonprofit
entity currently demonstrating an
independent commitment to serving the
ultimate beneficiaries of FTA’s National
RTAP.
IV. Scope of Work
The recipient will provide technical
assistance that will be useful to
beneficiaries of the FTA National RTAP.
Under this arrangement:
• The recipient will have the lead
responsibility for overall management of
26FEN1
 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
the National RTAP, which includes:
planning and preparing the annual work
program; supporting and assisting the
entities administering the state RTAP
activities; developing and promoting
training materials; conducting outreach
and coordination with other
organizations involved in rural public
transportation; convening national and
regional meetings on rural topics; and
monitoring the success of the RTAP
programs through user input and
feedback.
• The recipient will also have the
lead responsibility for operation of the
RTAP Rural Resource Center, which
shall include: providing toll-free
telephone assistance; disseminating
information electronically; distributing
resource materials; collecting and
maintaining available information
resources; regularly updating a catalog
of relevant training materials;
developing timely information briefs;
performing research as required; and
maintaining information about the
characteristics and status of rural transit
and inventory of specialized
transportation providers.
Task I: Project Planning and
Coordination
The recipient will assume primary
responsibility for administration and
management of the National RTAP.
Subtasks include:
• Submitting to the FTA project
manager, prior to the award of the
cooperative agreement each year, for
approval;
(1) A Work Plan, which specifies how
the stated objectives of project will be
met;
(2) a Management Plan, which sets
forth how the project will be managed
and who will be the key personnel
involved; and
(3) a Budget Plan, which specifies
what will be the costs associated with
the project.
• Submitting a progress report after
each project quarter, and a final project
report at the end of the project year;
• Ensuring the integration of all
projects tasks;
• Coordinating and implementing a
comprehensive set of activities designed
to encourage use of National RTAP
program products and services. Special
goals will be the preparation on a
regular basis of ‘‘press release’’ type
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
articles that can be used by state and
other national organizations to promote
National RTAP products, and
maintenance of appropriate promotional
materials that can be distributed at state
and national conferences.
VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:29 Feb 25, 2008 Jkt 214001
Task II: Development and Promotion of
Training Materials
The recipient will develop and
disseminate training materials designed
for use by rural transit providers.
Subtasks include:
• Developing, field testing, and
disseminating to the state RTAP’s
training packages or courses designed
for use by rural transit providers.
Selection of topics shall be guided by
and consistent with the identified
training needs of rural transit providers
and the state RTAP activities. Prior to
beginning developmental work on any
training package, the recipient shall
submit to FTA for its approval a plan for
the development of the package. The
plan shall include an overview for each
of the component parts to be produced
as part of training package, a time line
for development and final production
and a budget. This task may include
development of courses for delivery by
the National Transit Institute (NTI) or
other organizations (e.g. Tribal
Technical Assistance Program (TTAP)).
• Identifying and reviewing training
materials that are being developed
outside of the National RTAP, especially
by states under the RTAP state program
and by private vendors. Maintain
information on new and currently
available materials in a regularly
updated catalogue of existing training
materials, made available to state DOTs
and others through appropriate means,
including electronic dissemination.
• Promoting the RTAP training
packages. Activities include preparing
articles for use in state and national
publications to announce the package
for distribution through the RTAP state
program and at national, regional and
state meetings; and conducting
demonstration workshops at selected
national and regional meetings to build
the capacity of state and system level
personnel to facilitate the sound
delivery of the training packages.
Task III: Support for State
Administration of RTAP
The recipient will establish a liaison
relationship with the state RTAP
managers to ensure that the products
developed and activities undertaken
through the National RTAP are useful to
and supportive of the state programs,
promote information exchange at all
levels, and encourage coordination of
state efforts. Specific subtasks include:
• Provide a forum for networking
with state RTAP managers while
establishing communication for
information dissemination (i.e.,
newsletter or bulletin). The recipient
will report on national and state
PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703
10329
program accomplishments and
activities.
• Promoting and participating in
three or four RTAP regional meetings
annually, to share information about
RTAP products and other relevant FTA
initiatives.
• Assisting state DOTs to evaluate the
benefits of their state RTAP activities.
This effort will provide information to
FTA on how well the RTAP program is
working to meet the program goals and
objectives.
• Providing individualized technical
assistance to state RTAP managers as
requested by the state or by FTA.
In undertaking these subtasks, the
recipient will work to assure that
activities are complementary and not
duplicative.
Task IV: Outreach and Coordination
With other Organizations Involved with
Rural Transit
The recipient will coordinate with
other organizations involved with rural
public transportation and related
interests to avoid duplication of efforts
and to draw on these organizations’
networks to promote National RTAP
products and services. Specific subtasks
that will be undertaken by the recipient
will include:
• Participating in conferences,
workshops, and meetings of other
national and regional organizations both
to learn about their activities and to
promote FTA RTAP.
• Staying informed about other
national rural transportation assistance
activities within and outside FTA.
• Participating in the Transportation
Research Board (TRB) biennial National
Conference on Rural Public and
Intercity Bus Transportation.
• Coordinating activities with the
FHWA Local Area Technical Assistance
Program (LTAP and TTAP).
• Coordinating with other FTA-
funded technical assistance centers, and
participating in the National
Consortium on Human Service
Coordination (National Consortium) and
the National Resource Center for Human
Service Transportation Coordination
(NRC).
The recipient will consult with the
FTA project manager as to the
appropriate form of support for each of
these activities.
Task V: RTAP Rural Resource Center
The recipient will maintain a national
clearinghouse for rural public
transportation technology sharing and
information dissemination, a central
collection of products and services that
are useful to rural transit professionals.
The recipient will promote and monitor
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1
 10330 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
usage of the RTAP rural resource center.
Specific activities under this task
include:
• Collecting and maintaining relevant
information resources, training and
technical assistance materials, and
contacts and referrals, and developing
expertise about issues of concern to the
rural transit community;
• Operating a telephone hotline
information service, which provides
timely response to questions and
requests for information;
• Developing and providing
electronic access to information
resources maintained at the center;
• Disseminating information on new
rural public transportation technical
assistance and training materials and
updated databases;
• Collecting and disseminating
materials created by the state RTAP’s;
• Monitoring rural transit-related
legislation and regulations and
preparing timely summaries for
dissemination;
• Researching and preparing
information and technical assistance
briefs to fill identified gaps in available
information resources in response to
time-sensitive issues and areas of
common interest;
• Promoting and monitoring the
effectiveness of the resource center’s
products and services through regular
reports of center use statistics;
promotion in publications widely read
by the target audience; participation in
national, regional and state meetings;
dissemination of materials about the
center; and telephone surveys of
operators or other feedback mechanisms
such as postage-paid comment cards
included with center mailings.
Task VI: Rural Transit Database
The recipient is responsible for
maintaining the database of FTA-funded
rural and specialized systems. Subtasks
include:
• Maintaining an accurate and up-to-
date inventory of subrecipients under
FTA’s Elderly and Persons with
Disabilities Program (Section 5310) in
coordination with the National Senior
Transportation Center.
• Preparing profiles and analyses
based upon the data submitted to the
FTA rural NTD, and creating resource
materials based on the data.
Task VII: Peer-to-Peer Networking
The recipient will develop and
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
implement a national self-help technical
assistance network that facilitates the
exchange of technologies and
techniques among rural transit operators
on a peer-to-peer basis. Specific
subtasks include:
VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:29 Feb 25, 2008 Jkt 214001
• Identifying expert peers in areas of
current interest on a continuing basis;
• Setting up technical assistance
workshops to utilize a peer-to-peer
network efficiently, in coordination
with regularly scheduled meetings of
national, state, and regional groups;
• Matching peers with those needing
assistance on a one-to-one basis;
• Encouraging and facilitating peer-
to-peer exchange and providing support
services to promote peer assistance.
Task VIII: Research and Technical
Support
The recipient will provide a research
and technical support capacity to FTA
to address issues of immediate concern
to the rural transit programs. Examples
of specific subtasks to be performed at
the request of the FTA project manager
could include, but are not limited to:
• Preparing issue papers or reports in
response to FTA requests;
• Convening a focus group or small
meeting on a specific topic;
• Compiling data.
Task IX: Maintain Mechanism for User
Input and Feedback
The recipient will maintain a
mechanism for user input and feedback
such as the program review board.
Historically, the review board has
functioned as the mechanism for
providing the national program with
guidance on priority needs in the areas
of training materials development,
information dissemination, and
technical assistance. If project funding
is insufficient to support the review
board, an alternative mechanism should
be developed. Specific subtasks include:
• Convening no more than two (2)
official meetings of the board each year
of the project. One official meeting must
be held in Washington, DC. The second
meeting may be held at the TRB
Biennial National Conference on Rural
Public and Intercity Bus Transportation
or another national meeting. All official
review board meetings will be approved
by the FTA project manager. The board,
or alternative mechanism, will function
to:
• Provide the national program with
guidance on priority needs in the areas
of training material development,
information dissemination, and
technical assistance.
• Oversee the quality of national
program products and services.
• Promote the national program to
States and operators.
The following principles have been
developed to guide the review board:
• The review board will be limited to
15 or fewer members—roughly half
transit providers and half State DOT
PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
representatives. In the event that a board
member is no longer employed by a
nonurbanized transit provider or State
transit agency (including Tribal rural
operators), there shall be an automatic
vacancy for that individual’s position on
the board.
• Review board membership shall be
of limited duration and regular rotations
shall occur, so that continuity is
maintained.
• The recipient shall conduct an
appropriate orientation for new board
members, including an introduction to
the project’s history, goals and
objectives and current status, and
provide relevant materials including
summaries of past board-meetings,
information on board-member roles and
responsibilities, and other relevant
information.
Task X. Project Management and
Administration
a. The recipient shall meet with the
Project Officer and task order monitor
within ten (10) working days after
issuance of the task order to discuss the
objectives of the cooperative agreement
and any related projects.
b. The Project Coordinator of the
RTAP shall submit quarterly progress
reports to the FTA project manager. The
reports shall include the following items
and provide information relevant for the
particular period:
Sample Format for Progress Report
Goal:
Objective:
• Objective’s Total Budget
• Expenditures this quarter, this
objective
• Total expenditures, this objective.
(The expenditures reported on the
account, shall match the progress of
the project.)
Status as of : llllllllllll
(end date of reporting period)
Activity Planned (Relative to Project
Task Elements, Indicators and
Milestone Activities):
Actual Activity (Relative to Project Task
Elements, Indicators and Milestone
Activities):
Difficulties Encountered: (as applicable,
should include information on
specific reasons why goals and
objectives or milestones were not met,
and analysis and explanations of
costs overruns)
• Goal/Objective or Milestone Not
Met:
• Problem(s):
• Resolution/corrective action plan
and schedule:
Activity anticipated for next reporting
period:
26FEN1
 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
Budget
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Staff Travel
Consultant
Services—
Ambas-
sadors
Salaries,
fringe, indi-
rect, direct
administra-
tive costs
Total
Contact Information: All
documentation for the project, financial
and administrative, shall be forwarded
to: Pamela Brown, Project Manager,
Federal Transit Administration, 1200
New Jersey Ave., SE, 4th Floor, Room
E43–465, Washington, DC 20590, 202–
493–2503, Pamela.Brown@dot.gov.
V. Evaluation Criteria
The following evaluation criteria will
be used to rate all proposals responding
to this announcement, listed in
descending order of relative importance:
1. Technical approach.
2. Qualifications and experience of
the organization and its personnel.
3. Program management capability.
4. Application review information.
Award of this cooperative agreement
will be determined by the proposal that
offers to provide the greatest value to
the beneficiaries of the FTA RTAP in
terms of performance rather than the
proposal offering the lowest price.
Applicants may propose to provide
some or all of the services listed in the
tasks described in the Scope of Work
above. FTA reserves the right to award
one or more cooperative agreements.
1. Technical Approach
The overall technical approach to the
requirements of the statement of work
will be examined. Particular attention
will be given to the proposer’s
understanding of the objectives of the
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
National RTAP and how those
objectives will be met by their proposal.
The proposal should respond to the
specific requirements of the statement of
work and clearly explain how those
requirements will be accomplished.
VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:29 Feb 25, 2008 Jkt 214001
Expended Expended
Q1 Q2
2. Qualifications and Experience of the
Organization and Its Personnel
The nonprofit organization must
demonstrate that it has a broad based
constituency and purpose relevant to
rural public transportation interests.
The individual qualifications and work
experience of proposed project
personnel will be carefully examined.
The organization must show that it will
be able to assign employees with a
variety of skills and knowledge which
include: Familiarity with rural
operational issues facing both public
and private transportation operators;
experience in dealing with innovative
solutions to rural transportation needs;
knowledge of current Federal policy
initiatives; demonstrated ability to
develop and implement a broad
program of rural technical assistance;
knowledge of information dissemination
techniques and training and technical
assistance methodology; and
organizational skills to coordinate the
diverse individuals and organizations
involved in such a program.
FTA is particularly interested in
proposals for this cooperative agreement
from national non-profit organizations
with demonstrated capacity in State and
community transportation and rural
public transportation services. A strong
applicant has the following
characteristics:
• Demonstrated track record for
managing large scale projects.
• Exhibits strong analytical skills.
• Performance based organization
with an entrepreneurial approach to
problem solving.
• Ability to breathe new life into a
program by creating something new or
revamping an existing structure.
PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703
10331
Expended Expended
Balance
Q3 Q4
3. Program Management Capability
The proposal should indicate a strong
capability for managing an active and
varied rural technical assistance
program. Experience in working with
rural transportation professionals from
local, city, county, state, and Federal
government, public and private
operators and volunteer organizations is
an important requirement. The
organization should also demonstrate
coalition building and organizational
development skills. In addition, the
proposal should indicate experience in
managing and monitoring subrecipients
and contractors, if any are included in
the proposal. The recipient selected
must be an eligible recipient of a
cooperative agreement with FTA and be
able to sign the required certifications
and assurances and cooperative
agreement.
4. Application Review Information
An FTA review panel will be
convened to review each proposal.
Project proposals will be evaluated
based on the following criteria and
scoring system:
1. Staff qualifications, which includes
experience in delivering technical
assistance and training, knowledge of
human service transportation,
demonstrated process skills in
assessment, strategic planning,
facilitation, and other key areas
associated with identified tasks. The
entity shall also address a plan for
knowledge retention. (15%).
2. Capacity of the organization, which
includes clearinghouse functions, Web
development and maintenance,
technical assistance, training, long
distance and on-site intervention
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM 26FEN1
 10332 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
strategies, and other, identified tasks.
(15%).
3. Understanding and reasonability of
proposed goals, objectives,
methodologies, activities, timelines,
deliverables, and budget. (40%).
4. Plan to collaborate with
stakeholders and establish effective
partnerships to implement tasks. (20%).
5. Plan for evaluation and data
collection. (10%).
6. FTA may elect to meet in person
two or three of the most qualified
applicants.
This meeting will be held at the
Department of Transportation, in
Washington, DC. The applicants will be
notified of a date and time during which
they will be asked to present their
proposal to the FTA review panel. If an
entity proposes to perform an individual
task or tasks less than the full project,
the proposal will be evaluated
accordingly on its merits. If selected, the
proposer may be asked to form a
consortium with the applicant chosen to
manage the larger project
VI. Proposal Content
Proposals shall be submitted in
double-spaced format using Times New
Roman 12 point font. The application
must contain the following components:
1. Cover sheet (1 page): Includes
entity submitting proposal, principal
investigator, title, and contact
information (e.g., address, phone, fax,
and E-mail). Name and contact
information for the entity, key point of
contact for all cooperative activities (if
different from principle investigators).
2. Abstract (2 pages): Abstract shall
include background, purpose,
methodology, intended outcomes, and
plan for evaluation.
3. Detailed budget proposal and
budget narrative.
4. Project narrative (not to exceed 75
pages): Project narrative shall include
the following information:
a. Staff qualifications, include
experience in providing technical
assistance and implementing the other
tasks outlined in the solicitation. The
proposal shall also include the proposed
staff members’ knowledge of issues
related to human service transportation.
One page biographical sketches for staff
members shall be included in the
appendices section of the proposal;
b. Existing and future capacity of
organization to address the issues
outlined in the proposal and ability to
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
implement tasks I–X outlined under
Section IV. (Scope of Work) in this
solicitation;
c. Methodology for addressing tasks I–
X outlined under Section IV. in this
solicitation. The proposal shall also
VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:29 Feb 25, 2008 Jkt 214001
include objectives, activities,
deliverables, milestones, timeline and
intended outcomes for achieving the
goals outlined in the scope for the first
year;
d. Plan to work with stakeholders and
build partnerships at the national, State,
and local levels;
5. Project Management Plan that
includes well defined objectives, tasks,
activities, timelines, deliverables,
indicators, and outcomes.
6. Plan for evaluation of RTAP
activities and data collection.
7. Supplemental materials and letters
of support can be included in an
appendices section that is beyond the 75
page limit. In addition to the full
proposal, entities have the option to
submit supplemental material such as:
Brochures, publications, products, etc.
These materials shall be delivered to
Pamela Brown, Federal Transit
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., 4th Floor—East Building,
Room E43–465, Washington, DC 20590.
VII. Instructions
1. Submit five copies of proposal to
the following address: Federal Transit
Administration, TPM–5, Office of
Program Management, United We Ride
Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
4th Floor—East Building, Room E43–
465, Washington, DC 20590, Attn:
Pamela Brown; or apply through
Grants.Gov.
2. Proposals must be received no later
than 5:30 p.m., EDT, April 28, 2008
3. Technical questions and requests
for clarifications may be addressed to
Lorna R. Wilson at 202–366–2053.
4. The recipient will be selected and
the candidates notified approximately
two months after the application
deadline.
5. The recipient selected will be asked
to submit an application for a
cooperative agreement by July 1, 2008,
with funding of $1,212,000 for the first
year anticipated to be awarded before
October 30, 2008.
VIII. Award Information
FTA reserves the right to fund one or
more cooperative agreements for a five
year award. Year one of the cooperative
agreement is for $1.212 million. The
anticipated notification date is the
Spring of 2008, with an anticipated
starting date for the successful applicant
of July, 2008. Subsequent annual
funding will be based on annual
appropriations. FTA recipients with
existing FTA projects are eligible to
complete for this cooperative agreement.
The FTA will participate in activities
by attending review meetings,
commenting on technical reports,
PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
maintaining frequent contact with the
project manager, approving key
decisions/activities and negotiating any
redirecting activities if needed.
IX. Award Administration Information
The anticipated notification date for
the award of this cooperative agreement
is Spring of 2008, with an anticipated
start date for the successful applicant by
late Spring. FTA will notify the
successful entity. Following receipt of
the FTA Administrator’s notification
letter, the successful entity will be
required to submit its proposal through
the FTA Transportation Electronic
Award Management (TEAM) system
Web site. FTA will manage the
cooperative agreement through the
TEAM system Web site. Before FTA
may award Federal financial assistance
through a Federal cooperative
agreement, the entity must submit all
certifications and assurances pertaining
to itself and its project as required by
Federal laws and regulations. Since
Federal FY 1995, FTA has been
consolidating the various certifications
and assurances that may be required of
its awardees and the projects into a
single document published in the
Federal Register. The FY 2008 Annual
List of Certifications and Assurances for
FTA Cooperative Agreements and
Cooperative Agreements and Guidelines
will be published in the Federal
Register and posted on the FTA Web
site at http://www.fta.dot.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 21st day of
February, 2008.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8–3604 Filed 2–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. MC–F–21025]
Fenway Partners Capital Fund III, L.P.,
and Coach America Holdings, Inc.—
Control—Lakefront Lines, Inc., and
Hopkins Airport Limousine Service,
Inc.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board,
DOT.
ACTION:Notice Tentatively Approving
Finance Transaction.
SUMMARY: On February 1, 2008, Fenway
Partners Capital Fund III, L.P. (Fenway),
a noncarrier, and Coach America
Holdings, Inc. (Coach America)
(collectively, applicants), a noncarrier,
have filed an application under 49
U.S.C. 14303 to acquire control of
26FEN1